Drive assistance device

ABSTRACT

A drive assistance device includes an automatic brake unit configured to perform automatic brake control, a brake hold unit configured to perform a brake hold control keeping the vehicle stopped, a brake hold cancel unit configured to cancel the brake hold control when it is determined that a predetermined cancel condition is satisfied, a surroundings information obtaining unit configured to obtain surroundings information indicating a situation around the vehicle, a maneuver information obtaining unit configured to obtain maneuver information about a driving maneuver performed by a driver of the vehicle, a maneuver determination unit configured to determine, based on the surroundings information and the maneuver information whether the driving maneuver performed during the brake hold control is appropriate for the situation around the vehicle, and a prohibition unit configured to prohibit cancelling the brake hold control as long as it is determined that the driving maneuver is inappropriate.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 16/867,630, filed on May 6, 2020, which claims priority under 35 USC§ 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-146974 filed on Aug. 9,2019 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The disclosure relates to drive assistance devices that stop a vehicleby automatic braking and keeps the vehicle stopped.

2. Description of Related Art

A technique that forces a vehicle to stop by automatic braking is knownin the art. For example, a conventional collision avoidance assistancedevice applies automatic braking and stops a vehicle by increasing anoil pressure of hydraulic oil to be supplied to a brake device (brakeoil pressure) when an object with which the vehicle is likely to collideis detected by a front sensor such as a camera sensor and a radarsensor. After stopping the vehicle by automatic braking, such anassistance device keeps the vehicle stopped by performing brake holdcontrol, namely keeping the brake oil pressure high, for a predeterminedtime (e.g., 2 seconds).

An assistance device proposed by Japanese Unexamined Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2019-84984 (JP 2019-84984 A) (hereinafter referred to asthe related art device) cancels (terminates) brake hold control at thetiming a maneuver performed by the driver (e.g., depression of anaccelerator pedal, depression of a brake pedal, etc.) is detected, inthe case where it is determined that it is desirable to keep the vehiclestopped for more than a predetermined time after the vehicle is stoppedby automatic braking. For example, in a situation where the vehicle isstopped right in front of an intersection, in a situation where thevehicle is stopped as a vehicle traveling in a direction crossing thetraveling direction of the vehicle has been detected, etc., it isdetermined that it is desirable to keep the vehicle stopped for morethan the predetermined time. In this case, the brake hold control iscancelled at the timing a maneuver performed by the driver is detected.

SUMMARY

However, the related art device cancels the brake hold control merelywhen it detects a maneuver performed by the driver. Accordingly, therelated art device may cancel the brake hold control when it detects thedriver mistakenly depressing a wrong pedal. In this case, the vehiclewill not be kept stopped even in a situation where the vehicle should bekept stopped.

In a situation where automatic braking has been applied, the driver mayget upset and may not be able to perform an appropriate drivingmaneuver. For example, the driver may mistakenly step on the acceleratorpedal even though he or she intends to step on the brake pedal. In thiscase, the brake hold control is cancelled due to the depression of theaccelerator pedal, and the vehicle may accelerate suddenly according tothe depression of the accelerator pedal.

Moreover, the related art device does not consider the situation aroundthe vehicle when cancelling the brake hold control upon detection of amaneuver performed by the driver. Accordingly, when the brake holdcontrol is cancelled due to the driver mistakenly depressing a wrongpedal, the vehicle may collide with an obstacle or the vehicle may startin violation of laws and regulations.

The disclosure provides a technique in which brake hold control iscancelled when it is estimated that a vehicle is safe even if brake holdcontrol is cancelled.

An aspect of the disclosure relates to a drive assistance device. Thedrive assistance device includes: an automatic brake unit configured toperform automatic brake control when it is determined that apredetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied, the automatic brakecontrol being control in which a braking force is applied to a vehicleto automatically stop the vehicle; a brake hold unit configured toperform brake hold control such that the vehicle stopped by theautomatic brake unit moves neither forward nor rearward, the brake holdcontrol being control in which the braking force is applied to thevehicle to keep the vehicle stopped; a brake hold cancel unit configuredto cause the brake hold unit to cancel the brake hold control when it isdetermined that a predetermined cancel condition is satisfied during thebrake hold control performed by the brake hold unit; a surroundingsinformation obtaining unit configured to obtain surroundingsinformation, the surrounding information being information indicating asituation around the vehicle; a maneuver information obtaining unitconfigured to obtain maneuver information, the maneuver informationbeing information on a driving maneuver performed by a driver of thevehicle; a maneuver determination unit configured to determine, based onthe obtained surroundings information and the obtained maneuverinformation, whether the driving maneuver performed during the brakehold control is appropriate for the situation around the vehicle; and aprohibition unit configured such that, even when the predeterminedcancel condition is satisfied, the prohibition unit prohibits the brakehold cancel unit from causing the brake hold unit to cancel the brakehold control as long as the maneuver determination unit determines thatthe driving maneuver is inappropriate.

The drive assistance device of the above aspect includes the automaticbrake unit, the brake hold unit, and the brake hold cancel unit. Theautomatic brake unit performs the automatic brake control, namely thecontrol in which a braking force is applied to the vehicle toautomatically stop the vehicle, when it is determined that thepredetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied. For example, whenan obstacle with which the vehicle is likely to collide is detected, theautomatic brake unit operates a brake device (generate a braking force)to stop the vehicle without requiring the driver to depress a brakepedal.

The brake hold unit performs the brake hold control, namely the controlin which the braking force is applied to the vehicle to keep the vehiclestopped, so that the vehicle stopped by the automatic brake unit movesneither forward nor rearward. The vehicle is thus kept stopped. Thebrake hold cancel unit cancels the brake hold control when it isdetermined that the predetermined cancel condition is satisfied duringthe brake hold control. Hereinafter, “cancel the brake hold control” issometimes referred to as “cancel brake hold”

Brake hold should be cancelled when it is safe to do so. The disclosuretherefore includes the surroundings information obtaining unit, themaneuver information obtaining unit, the maneuver determination unit,and the prohibition unit. The surroundings information obtaining unitobtains the surroundings information that is information indicating thesituation around the vehicle. For example, the surroundings informationobtaining unit obtains information on an obstacle that is present aroundthe vehicle. Alternatively, the surroundings information obtaining unitmay obtain information indicating the content indicated by a trafficinfrastructure facility such as a traffic light located around thevehicle.

The maneuver determination unit obtains the maneuver information that isinformation on the driving maneuver performed by the driver of thevehicle. For example, the maneuver determination unit obtainsinformation on a pedal maneuver performed by the driver (information ondepression of an accelerator pedal and information on depression of thebrake pedal).

The maneuver determination unit determines, based on the obtainedsurroundings information and the obtained maneuver information, whetherthe driving maneuver performed during the brake hold control isappropriate for the situation around the vehicle.

For example, the maneuver determination unit determines that such adriving maneuver that the vehicle may approach an obstacle if the brakehold control is cancelled or such a driving maneuver that the vehiclemay make an illegal movement if the brake hold control is cancelled isinappropriate for the situation around the vehicle as a driving maneuverperformed by the driver during the brake hold control.

Even when the cancel condition is satisfied, the prohibition unitprohibits the brake hold cancel unit from causing the brake hold unit tocancel the brake hold control as long as the maneuver determination unitdetermines that the driving maneuver is inappropriate.

According to the disclosure, the brake hold can be released only when itis safe to do so. Start of the vehicle which is not intended by thedriver is thus less likely to occur, and the vehicle is less likely tocollide with an obstacle when the brake hold control is cancelled.

In the drive assistance device of the above aspect, the brake holdcancel unit may be configured to determine that the predetermined cancelcondition is satisfied when a brake hold time is equal to or longer thana predetermined cancel threshold time and the accelerator pedal is notbeing depressed, the brake hold time being a period during which thebrake hold control is continuously performed.

When automatic braking is applied, a certain period of time is requiredbefore the driver becomes able to calmly judge a situation and maneuverthe vehicle. The vehicle therefore should be kept stopped for a certainperiod of time. In the aspect of the disclosure, it is determined thatthe cancel condition is satisfied when the brake hold time, which is aperiod during which the brake hold control is continuously performed, isequal to or longer than the predetermined cancel threshold time and theaccelerator pedal is not being depressed. In the case where it has beendetermined by the maneuver determination unit that the driving maneuveris appropriate for the situation around the vehicle when the brake holdtime becomes equal to or longer than the predetermined cancel thresholdtime, the brake hold control is cancelled at this time. However, in thecase where it has been determined by the maneuver determination unitthat the driving maneuver is inappropriate for the situation around thevehicle when the brake hold time becomes equal to or longer than thepredetermined cancel threshold time, the brake hold control is continuedwithout being cancelled. According to the above aspect, the brake holdis thus cancelled when it is safe to do so.

In the drive assistance device of the above aspect, the brake holdcancel unit may be configured to determine whether a specific maneuver,which is estimated to be a maneuver intended by the driver, has beenperformed during the brake hold control, and when the brake hold cancelunit determines that the specific maneuver has been performed, determinethat the predetermined cancel condition is satisfied even when the brakehold time is less than the cancel threshold time.

There is a case where the driver intentionally performs a drivingmaneuver within a short time after the vehicle is stopped by theautomatic braking. In this case, it is desirable to cancel the brakehold even before the stop hold time reaches the cancel threshold time.In the aspect of the disclosure, the brake hold cancel unit determineswhether a specific maneuver, which is estimated to be a maneuverintended by the driver, has been performed during the brake holdcontrol. When the brake hold cancel unit determines that the specificmaneuver has been performed, the brake hold cancel unit determines thatthe cancel condition is satisfied even when the brake hold time is lessthan the cancel threshold time. In this case as well, in the case whereit has been determined by the maneuver determination unit that thedriving maneuver is appropriate for the situation around the vehiclewhen it is determined that the specific maneuver has been performed, thebrake hold control is cancelled at this time. However, in the case whereit has been determined by the maneuver determination unit that thedriving maneuver is inappropriate for the situation around the vehiclewhen it is determined that the specific maneuver has been performed, thebrake hold control is continued without being cancelled.

According to the aspect of the disclosure, the brake hold is cancelledat an appropriate timing. The driver can thus start the vehicle beforethe brake hold time reaches the cancel threshold time.

In the drive assistance device of the above aspect, the specificmaneuver may be a maneuver of depressing the accelerator pedal againwhich is performed during the brake hold control.

That is, the specific maneuver may be a maneuver of releasing thedriver's foot from the accelerator pedal, and then depressing theaccelerator pedal again. This maneuver of depressing the acceleratorpedal again can be estimated to be a driving maneuver intended by thedriver. Accordingly, in the case where the maneuver of depressing theaccelerator pedal again is detected, the brake hold is cancelled as longas this maneuver is appropriate for the situation around the vehicle.

In the drive assistance device of the above aspect, the specificmaneuver may be depression of the brake pedal which is performed when adepression amount of the accelerator pedal is zero during the brake holdcontrol. When the automatic brake control is performed, this depressionof the brake pedal performed without depressing the accelerator pedalcan be estimated to be a driving maneuver intended by the driver. Thisdriving maneuver is appropriate for the situation around the vehiclebecause is it not a maneuver that starts the vehicle. Accordingly, thebrake hold can be cancelled at the timing the depression of the brakepedal is detected.

In the drive assistance device of the above aspect, the maneuverdetermination unit may be configured to determine that the drivingmaneuver is inappropriate when, during the brake hold control, it isdetermined based on the obtained surroundings information that anobstacle with which the vehicle has a potential to collide is presentand it is determined based on the obtained maneuver information that theaccelerator pedal has been depressed.

In this case, since the brake hold will not be cancelled even if thedriver mistakenly depresses the accelerator pedal. The vehicle istherefore less likely to collide with the obstacle.

In the drive assistance device of the above aspect, the maneuverdetermination unit may be configured to determine that the drivingmaneuver is inappropriate when, during the brake hold control, it isdetermined based on the obtained surroundings information that anobstacle with which the vehicle has a potential to collide is presentand it is determined based on the obtained maneuver information that thebrake pedal is not being depressed.

When the brake hold is cancelled with the brake pedal not beingdepressed, the vehicle starts due to creeping. In the aspect of thedisclosure, when there is an obstacle with which the vehicle has thepotential to collide, the brake hold will not be cancelled unless thebrake pedal is depressed. Accordingly, the vehicle is less likely tocollide with the obstacle due to creeping.

In the drive assistance device of the above aspect, the maneuverdetermination unit may be configured to determine that the drivingmaneuver is inappropriate when, during the brake hold control, it isdetermined based on the obtained surroundings information that asituation has occurred in which the vehicle is legally not allowed tostart and it is determined based on the obtained maneuver informationthat the accelerator pedal has been depressed.

For example, the vehicle is not allowed to enter an intersection whenthe vehicle is kept stopped right in front of the intersection and whena traffic light at the intersection is red. In the aspect of thedisclosure, the brake hold will not be cancelled even when the drivermistakenly depresses the accelerator pedal against his or her intensionin a situation where the vehicle is legally not allowed to start. As aresult, the driver can observe laws and regulations. Moreover, thevehicle is less likely to collide with other vehicle, a pedestrian, etc.

In the drive assistance device of the above aspect, the maneuverdetermination unit may be configured to determine that the drivingmaneuver is inappropriate when, during the brake hold control, it isdetermined based on the obtained surroundings information that asituation has occurred in which the vehicle is legally not allowed tostart and it is determined based on the obtained maneuver informationthat the brake pedal is not being depressed.

In the aspect of the disclosure, in the case where the driver is notdepressing the brake pedal and a situation has occurred in which thevehicle is legally not allowed to start, the brake hold will not becancelled. The driver can observe the laws and regulations. Moreover,the vehicle is less likely to collide with other vehicle, a pedestrian,etc.

In the drive assistance device of the above aspect, the maneuverdetermination unit may be configured to determine whether the driver isseated in a seat of the driver during the brake hold control, anddetermine that the driving maneuver is inappropriate, when it isdetermined that the driver is not seated in the seat of the driver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance ofexemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described below withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which like signs denote likeelements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a drive assistance deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a brake hold cancel control routine;

FIG. 3 is a timing chart according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a timing chart according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a timing chart according to a comparative example; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a modification of the brake holdcancel control routine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A drive assistance device according to an embodiment of the disclosurewill be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The drive assistance device according to the embodiment of thedisclosure is applied to a vehicle (hereinafter referred to as the “thevehicle” to distinguish it from other vehicles), and as shown in FIG. 1,includes a drive assistance ECU 10, a brake ECU 20, an engine ECU 30, ameter ECU 40, an external communication ECU 50, and a navigation ECU 60.

These ECUs are electric control units each having a microcomputer as amain part and are connected to each other via a Controller Area Network(CAN), not shown, so that they can send and receive information to andfrom each other. In this specification, the microcomputer includes acentral processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), a random accessmemory (RAM), a nonvolatile memory, an interface I/F, etc. The CPUcarries out various functions by executing instructions (programs,routines) stored in the ROM. A part or all of these ECUs may beintegrated into one ECU.

The drive assistance ECU 10 is a central control device that providesassistance to the driver in driving the vehicle. The drive assistanceECU 10 performs collision avoidance assistance control. The collisionavoidance assistance control is control in which the driver is alertedwhen an obstacle is detected ahead of the vehicle, and a collisionbetween the vehicle and the obstacle is avoided by automatic brakingwhen the possibility of the collision is further increased. Since thecollision avoidance assistance control is generally called pre-crashsafety control (PCS control), the collision avoidance assistance controlis hereinafter referred to as the PCS control.

The drive assistance ECU 10 is connected to a front camera sensor 70, afront radar sensor 75, a rear side radar sensor 80, a vehicle statesensor 90, an operation state sensor 95, and a buzzer 100.

The front camera sensor 70 is mounted on the upper part of a windshieldin a passenger compartment and shoots the view ahead of the vehicle. Thefront camera sensor 70 percepts a white line on a road and athree-dimensional object that is present ahead of the vehicle, based onthe image of the view, and supplies their information (white lineinformation and three-dimensional object information) to the driveassistance ECU 10 at predetermined intervals. The white line informationis information indicating the shape of the white line, the relativepositional relationship between the vehicle and the white line, etc. Thethree-dimensional object information is information indicating the typeof the three-dimensional object detected ahead of the vehicle, the sizeof the three-dimensional object, the relative positional relationshipbetween the three-dimensional object and the vehicle, etc.

The front camera sensor 70 perceives the content represented by atraffic infrastructure facility, such as a traffic light and a roadsign, which regulates driving of vehicles by laws and regulations. Thefront camera sensor 70 also supplies information indicating the contentrepresented by the traffic infrastructure facility (hereinafter referredto as traffic infrastructure information) to the drive assistance ECU 10at the predetermined intervals. Perception of the type of thethree-dimensional object and the content represented by the trafficinfrastructure facility is implemented by, e.g., machine learning.

The front radar sensor 75 is mounted in the center of the front of avehicle body and detects a three-dimensional object that is present inan area ahead of the vehicle. The front radar sensor 75 emits radiowaves in the millimeter band (hereinafter referred to as “millimeterwaves”) and receives millimeter waves reflected by a three-dimensionalobject (e.g., other vehicle, a pedestrian, a bicycle, a building, etc.)that is present within the emission range (that is, reflected waves).The front radar sensor 75 calculates the distance between the vehicleand the three-dimensional object, the relative speed between the vehicleand the three-dimensional object, the position (direction) of thethree-dimensional object relative to the vehicle, etc. based on thephase difference between the emitted millimeter waves and the receivedreflected waves, the level of attenuation of the reflected waves, thetime it takes from emission of the millimeter waves to reception of thereflected waves, etc. The front radar sensor 75 supplies informationindicating the calculation results (three-dimensional objectinformation) to the drive assistance ECU 10 at predetermined intervals.

The drive assistance ECU 10 combines the three-dimensional objectinformation supplied from the front camera sensor 70 and thethree-dimensional object information supplied from the front radarsensor 75 to obtain highly accurate three-dimensional objectinformation.

Hereinafter, the front camera sensor 70 and the front radar sensor 75are collectively referred to as the front sensor, and the informationahead of the vehicle, which is obtained from the front camera sensor 70and the front radar sensor 75, is referred to as front sensorinformation.

The rear side radar sensor 80 includes a right rear radar sensor 80R anda left rear radar sensor 80L. The right rear radar sensor 80R is a radarsensor mounted on the right rear corner of the vehicle body, and theleft rear radar sensor 80L is a radar sensor mounted on the left rearcorner of the vehicle body. The right rear radar sensor 80R has itsradar axis extending diagonally backward to the right and detects athree-dimensional object that is present in an area diagonally behindand to the right of the vehicle. The left rear radar sensor 80L has itsradar axis extending diagonally backward to the left and detects athree-dimensional object that is present in an area diagonally behindand to the left of the vehicle. A method for detecting athree-dimensional object by the rear side radar sensor 80 is similar tothat for detecting a three-dimensional object by the front radar sensor75.

The rear side radar sensor 80 supplies three-dimensional objectinformation, which is information on the detected three-dimensionalobject, to the drive assistance ECU 10 at predetermined intervals.Hereinafter, the information diagonally behind and to the right of thevehicle and diagonally behind and to the left of the vehicle, which isobtained from the rear side radar sensor 80, is referred to as rearsensor information. The information obtained using the front camerasensor 70, the front radar sensor 75, and the rear side radar sensor 80is information indicating the situation around the vehicle and issometimes referred to as surroundings information.

The vehicle state sensor 90 includes, e.g., a vehicle speed sensor, alongitudinal acceleration sensor, a lateral acceleration sensor, a yawrate sensor, etc. The vehicle speed sensor detects the traveling speedof the vehicle, the longitudinal acceleration sensor detects thelongitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, the lateral accelerationsensor detects the lateral acceleration of the vehicle, and the yaw ratesensor detects the yaw rate of the vehicle.

The operation state sensor 95 is a sensor or switch that detects amaneuver (driving maneuver) performed by the driver. The operation statesensor 95 includes an accelerator depression amount sensor, a brakedepression amount sensor, a brake switch, a steering angle sensor, asteering torque sensor, a shift position sensor, etc. The acceleratordepression amount sensor detects the depression amount of an acceleratorpedal, the brake depression amount sensor detects the depression amountof a brake pedal, the brake switch detects whether the brake pedal isbeing depressed, the steering angle sensor detects a steering angle, thesteering torque sensor detects steering torque, and the shift positionsensor detects the shift position of a transmission. Informationobtained using the operation state sensor 95 is information on a drivingmaneuver performed by the driver of the vehicle and is sometimesreferred to as maneuver information.

The information detected by the vehicle state sensor 90 and theoperation state sensor 95 (hereinafter referred to as sensorinformation) is supplied to the drive assistance ECU 10 at predeterminedintervals via the CAN, not shown.

The buzzer 100 sounds according to an instruction from the driveassistance ECU 10. When alerting the driver, the drive assistance ECU 10sends a sounding command to the buzzer 100 to sound the buzzer 100. Thedriver can thus be alerted.

The brake ECU 20 is connected to a brake actuator 21. The brake actuator21 is provided in a hydraulic circuit between a master cylinder, notshown, that pressurizes hydraulic oil by the brake pedal force andfriction brake mechanisms 22 provided on the right and left front andrear wheels. The friction brake mechanism 22 includes a brake disc 22 afixed to the wheel and a brake caliper 22 b fixed to the vehicle body.The brake actuator 21 adjusts an oil pressure to be supplied to a wheelcylinder contained in the brake caliper 22 b according to an instructionfrom the brake ECU 20. The brake actuator 21 operates the wheel cylinderby the oil pressure and thus presses a brake pad against the brake disc22 a to generate a friction braking force. The brake ECU 20 setsdeceleration requested by the driver (driver requested deceleration)based on the depression amount of the brake pedal detected by the brakedepression amount sensor, and controls operation of the brake actuator21 so that the vehicle decelerates at the driver requested deceleration.When the brake ECU 20 receives a PCS brake command from the driveassistance ECU 10, the brake ECU 20 controls operation of the brakeactuator 21 so that the vehicle decelerates at PCS requesteddeceleration. The PCS requested deceleration is information included inthe PCS brake command.

The engine ECU 30 is connected to an engine actuator 31. The engineactuator 31 is an actuator that changes the operating state of an engine32 (internal combustion engine), and includes, e.g., a throttle valveactuator that changes the opening amount of a throttle valve. The engineECU 30 sets torque requested by the driver (driver requested torque)based on the depression amount of the accelerator pedal detected by theaccelerator depression amount sensor and the vehicle speed detected bythe vehicle speed sensor, and controls operation of the engine actuator31 so that the engine 32 outputs the driver requested torque. When theengine ECU 30 receives an output limit command from the drive assistanceECU 10, the engine ECU 30 controls operation of the engine actuator 31so as to limit output torque that is generated by the engine 32. In thecase where the vehicle is an electric vehicle, the engine actuator 31 isa drive device for an electric motor. In the case where the vehicle is ahybrid vehicle, the engine actuator 31 is a drive device for the engineactuator and the electric motor.

The meter ECU 40 is connected to a display 41 and a stop lamp 42. Themeter ECU 40 can display information related to drive assistance on thedisplay 41 according to an instruction from the drive assistance ECU 10.The meter ECU 40 can turn on the stop lamp 42 according to aninstruction from the drive assistance ECU 10 or the brake ECU 20.

The external communication ECU 50 is connected to a wirelesscommunication device 51. The wireless communication device 51 is adevice that receives traffic infrastructure information from a roadsideunit installed on a road etc. The wireless communication device 51supplies the received traffic infrastructure information to the externalcommunication ECU 50. When the external communication ECU 50 receives arequest to obtain traffic infrastructure information from the driveassistance ECU 10, the external communication ECU 50 supplies thetraffic infrastructure information received by the wirelesscommunication device 51 to the drive assistance ECU 10.

The traffic infrastructure information includes intersectioninformation, road information, etc. The intersection informationincludes traffic light information on a traffic light at an intersectionwhere a roadside unit is installed, vehicle detection information on avehicle detected near an intersection (e.g., within a predetermineddistance from the center of the intersection), pedestrian detectioninformation on a pedestrian detected near an intersection, andintersection map information indicating the road shape of anintersection and the shape of each road connected to the intersection.The traffic light information includes information that can specify aperiod during which the traffic light is red (or green) according theintervals at which the traffic light cycles through green, yellow, andred, the times the traffic light turns green, yellow, and red, etc. Thetraffic infrastructure information is included in the surroundingsinformation described above.

The navigation ECU 60 is connected to a GPS receiver 61, a map database62, a human-machine interface 63 (hereinafter referred to as the HMI63), etc. The GPS receiver 61 receives a GPS signal for detecting thecurrent position location of the vehicle. The map database 62 stores mapinformation etc. therein. The HMI 63 uses a touch panel display etc. Thenavigation ECU 60 specifies the current location of the vehicle based onthe GPS signal, performs various calculations based on the location ofthe vehicle and the map information etc. stored in the map database 62,and provides route guidance using the HMI 63.

PCS Control

The PCS control in which automatic braking is applied will be described.Regarding the functions, the drive assistance ECU 10 includes acollision determination unit 11, a notification unit 12, an automaticbrake unit 13, a brake hold unit 14, a brake hold cancel unit 15, anmaneuver determination unit 16, and a prohibition unit 17.

The collision determination unit 11 determines whether the vehicle willcollide with a three-dimensional object ahead of it based on the frontsensor information supplied from the front sensor and the vehicle statedetected by the vehicle state sensor 90. For example, the collisiondetermination unit 11 determines whether the vehicle will collide withthe three-dimensional object in the case where the three-dimensionalobject maintains its current moving state (its stopped state in the casewhere the three-dimensional object is a stationary object) and thevehicle maintains its current traveling state. When the collisiondetermination unit 11 determines that the vehicle will collide with thethree-dimensional object, it identifies the three-dimensional object asan obstacle based on the determination result.

Upon detection of the obstacle, the collision determination unit 11calculates a predicted time to collision TTC. The predicted time tocollision TTC is a predicted time until the vehicle collides with theobstacle. The predicted time to collision TTC is calculated by thefollowing expression (1) based on the distance d between the obstacleand the vehicle and the speed Vr of the vehicle relative to theobstacle.

TTC=d/Vr  (1)

The predicted time to collision TTC is used as an index indicating thepossibility that the vehicle collides with the obstacle. The smaller thevalue of the predicted time to collision TTC is, the more likely thevehicle is to collide with the obstacle (the higher the risk ofcollision is).

In the PCS control of the present embodiment, the possibility that thevehicle collides with the obstacle is divided into two levels based onthe predicted time to collision TTC. At the initial level, namely thefirst level, the notification unit 12 warns the driver using the buzzer100 and the display 41. At the second level at which the possibilitythat the vehicle collides with the obstacle is higher than at the firstlevel, the automatic brake unit 13 performs brake control (automaticbrake control) to provide collision avoidance assistance.

In this case, the collision determination unit 11 determines that thepossibility that the vehicle collides with the obstacle has reached thefirst level when the predicted time to collision TTC decreases to awarning threshold TTCw or less. The collision determination unit 11determines that the possibility that the vehicle collides with theobstacle has reached the second level when the predicted time tocollision TTC further decreases to an operation threshold TTCa (<TTCw).In this example, the collision determination unit 11 determines that apredetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied when the possibilitythat the vehicle collides with the obstacle reaches the second level.

When it is determined that the possibility that the vehicle collideswith the obstacle has reached the second level, the automatic brake unit13 sends a PCS brake command to the brake ECU 20. The PCS brake commandincludes information indicating PCS requested deceleration Gpcs.

The PCS requested deceleration Gpcs can be calculated as follows. Forexample, in the case where the obstacle is stopped, the distance X to betraveled until the vehicle stops can be given by the followingexpression (2).

X=V·t+(1/2)·a·t ²  (2)

In the expression (2), V represents the current speed (relative speed)of the vehicle, a (<0) represents deceleration of the vehicle, and trepresents the time until the vehicle stops. The time t until thevehicle stops can be given by the following expression (3).

t=—V/a  (3)

By substituting the expression (3) for the expression (2), the distanceX to be traveled until the vehicle stops can be given by the followingexpression (4).

X=−V ²/2a  (4)

In order to stop the vehicle a distance β ahead of the obstacle, thedeceleration a is calculated with the distance X being set to thedistance d detected by the front sensor minus the distance β (thedistance (d−β)). In the case where the obstacle is traveling, thedeceleration a is calculated using the speed of the vehicle relative tothe obstacle and the deceleration of the vehicle relative to theobstacle.

The deceleration a thus calculated is used as the PCS requesteddeceleration Gpcs. The PCS requested deceleration Gpcs has a set upperlimit Gmax. When the calculated PCS requested deceleration Gpcs ishigher than the upper limit Gmax, the PCS requested deceleration Gpcs isset to the upper limit Gmax.

When the brake ECU 20 receives the PCS brake command, it controls thebrake actuator 21 to achieve the PCS requested deceleration Gpcs. Afriction braking force is thus generated on the right and left front andrear wheels without requiring the driver to depress the brake pedal, sothat the vehicle can be forced to stop. When the vehicle stops, thebrake hold unit 14 instead of the automatic brake unit 13 controls thebrake ECU 20. The automatic brake control is performed in this manner.

When the brake hold unit 14 confirms that the vehicle is stopped byautomatic braking, it sends a brake hold command to the brake ECU 20 sothat the vehicle is kept stopped (so that the vehicle moves neitherforward nor rearward). In response to the brake hold command, the brakeECU 20 controls the brake actuator 21 to supply an oil pressure, whichhas been set to keep the vehicle stopped, to the wheel cylinders of thefriction brake mechanisms 22 for the right and left front and rearwheels. The vehicle is thus kept stopped. Hereinafter, keeping thevehicle stopped is sometimes referred to as brake hold. Control forkeeping the vehicle stopped is sometimes referred to as brake holdcontrol.

The drive assistance ECU 10 sends an output limit command to the engineECU 30 during automatic brake control and during brake hold control. Theoutput limit command is a command to limit engine output torque (e.g.,to reduce engine output torque to zero). The brake ECU 20 sends acommand to turn on the stop lamp 42 to the meter ECU 40 during automaticbrake control and during brake hold control.

The brake hold cancel unit 15 determines whether a preset cancelcondition, which will be described later in detail, is satisfied. Whenthe cancel condition is satisfied, the brake hold cancel unit 15 sends abrake hold cancel command to the brake ECU 20.

The brake ECU 20 thus terminates the control of the brake actuator 21which has been performed for brake hold. The brake hold of the vehicleis thus cancelled (that is, the brake hold control is cancelled), andthe PCS control is terminated. The brake hold cancel unit 15 sends anoutput limit cancel command to the engine ECU 30. The vehicle is thusreturned to its normal state, so that the vehicle can make accelerationand deceleration movements according to depression of the acceleratorpedal and depression of the brake pedal.

Brake Hold Cancel Control

Brake hold (brake hold control) of the vehicle should be cancelled onlywhen it is safe to do so. For example, a device is conventionally knownwhich cancels brake hold (terminates brake hold control) when thevehicle is kept stopped (brake hold control is performed) for apredetermined time. With this conventional device, there is a case wherebrake hold is cancelled with an obstacle being present immediately aheadof the vehicle. In this case, the vehicle starts due to creeping unlessthe driver is stepping on the brake pedal at that time. As a result, thevehicle may collide with the obstacle or approach the obstacle tooclosely. Moreover, in the case where the driver gets upset byapplication of automatic braking and keeps stepping on the acceleratorpedal although he or she should step on the brake pedal, brake hold maybe cancelled, and the vehicle may accelerate suddenly.

There is also a device that continues brake hold control when it isdetermined that it is desirable to keep the vehicle stopped (i.e.,continue brake hold control) even after a predetermined time passes fromthe time the vehicle is stopped by automatic brake control, and whichcancels the brake hold (terminates the brake hold control) at the timinga driving maneuver performed by the driver is detected thereafter. Withthis device, however, brake hold may be cancelled based on a wrongdriving maneuver by the driver such as the driver mistakenly stepping ona wrong pedal. In this case, brake hold is not continued even when itshould be continued.

In the present embodiment, when the cancel condition is satisfied (thatis, when cancelling brake hold), whether a driving maneuver performed bythe driver during the brake hold control is appropriate for thesituation around the vehicle based on information on the drivingmaneuver performed by the driver (maneuver information) and informationindicating the situation around the vehicle (surroundings information).

This determination includes not only determination of whether thedriving maneuver performed by the driver is appropriate for thesituation around the vehicle but also determination of whether thedriver is not performing a driving maneuver appropriate for thesituation around the vehicle. That is, in the case where the driver isnot performing a driving maneuver appropriate for the situation aroundthe vehicle, it may be determined that the driving maneuver performed bythe driver is inappropriate. Hereinafter, driving maneuvers performed bythe driver are simply referred to as maneuvers performed by the driver.

Inappropriate maneuvers by the driver includes such a maneuver that thevehicle may approach an obstacle when brake hold is cancelled and such amaneuver that the vehicle may make an illegal movement when brake holdis cancelled.

The maneuver determination unit 16 determines based on surroundingsinformation and maneuver information whether a maneuver performed by thedriver while the vehicle is kept stopped by brake hold control isappropriate for the situation around the vehicle.

When the maneuver determination unit 16 determines that “the maneuverperformed by the driver while the vehicle is kept stopped isinappropriate for the situation around the vehicle,” the prohibitionunit 17 prohibits the brake hold cancel unit 15 from causing the brakehold unit 14 to cancel the brake hold control.

Examples will be given in which the maneuver determination unit 16determines that the maneuver performed by the driver is in appropriatefor the situation around the vehicle. Conventional devices may cancelbrake hold control in these examples.

-   -   The brake pedal is not being depressed in a situation where an        obstacle has been detected immediately ahead of (right in front        of) the vehicle.    -   The accelerator pedal is depressed in a situation where an        obstacle has been detected ahead of the vehicle.    -   An obstacle has been detected in the estimated traveling        direction of the vehicle when a steering wheel is maneuvered and        the accelerator pedal is depressed.    -   The accelerator pedal is depressed when a moving object (other        vehicle, a pedestrian, a bicycle, etc.) is predicted to cross in        front of the vehicle.    -   The accelerator pedal is depressed when a moving object (other        vehicle, a pedestrian, a bicycle, etc.) approaching the vehicle        from diagonally behind is predicted to cut in.    -   The accelerator pedal is depressed when a traffic light ahead of        the vehicle is red.    -   The accelerator pedal has been depressed since before        application of automatic braking and is kept depressed without        being released.

The brake hold cancel unit 15 determines that the cancel condition issatisfied when any of the following conditions is satisfied.

Cancel condition 1: The period which has elapsed since the vehicle wasstopped by automatic brake control and during which brake hold controlis continuously performed (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “holdtime”) is equal to or longer than a set time, and the accelerator pedalis not being depressed.

Cancel condition 2: A specific maneuver that can be estimated to be amaneuver intended by the driver was performed during a period in whichbrake hold control is continuously performed (during brake hold).

The specific maneuver in the cancel condition 2 is a maneuver ofdepressing the accelerator pedal again during brake hold and/ordepressing the brake pedal during brake hole without depressing theaccelerator pedal.

Depressing the brake pedal, depressing the accelerator pedal, andmaneuvering the steering wheel are not regarded as maneuvers performedby the driver, in the case where substantial functions (deceleratingfunction, accelerating function, and steering function) cannot becarried out by these maneuvers, such as in the case where such maneuversare performed momentarily and in the case where their amounts ofoperation (the depression amount of the brake pedal, the depressionamount of the accelerator pedal, and the operation amount of thesteering wheel) are very small. Accordingly, in order for such maneuversto be regarded as maneuvers performed by the driver, it is necessarythat the maneuvers be continuously detected for a certain time or longerand their detected amounts of operation be a certain value or more.

Brake Hold Cancel Control Routine

Next, a specific brake hold cancel control process that is performed bythe drive assistance ECU 10 (functional units corresponding to the brakehold cancel unit 15, the maneuver determination unit 16, and theprohibition unit 17) will be described. FIG. 2 illustrates a brake holdcancel control routine that is executed by the drive assistance ECU 10.The drive assistance ECU 10 starts the brake hold cancel control routinewhen the vehicle is stopped by the PCS control (automatic brake control)and brake hold is started by brake hold control.

When the brake hold cancel control routine is started, the driveassistance ECU 10 determines in step S11 whether the accelerator pedalis being depressed. In this case, the drive assistance ECU 10determines, based on the depression amount of the accelerator pedaldetected by the accelerator depression amount sensor, whether theaccelerator pedal is being depressed to such an extent that theaccelerating function is being substantially carried out.

When depression of the accelerator pedal is not detected (S11: No), theroutine proceeds to step S12. The drive assistance ECU 10 determines instep S12 whether the brake pedal is being depressed. In this case, thedrive assistance ECU 10 determines, based on the depression amount ofthe brake pedal detected by the brake depression amount sensor, whetherthe brake pedal is being depressed to such an extent that thedecelerating function is being substantially carried out.

The determination result in step S12 is “Yes” in the case where thedriver is not stepping on the accelerator pedal but is stepping on thebrake pedal. In this case, it can be estimated that the brake pedal isbeing depressed by the driver's intention. The vehicle will not starteven when the brake hold control is cancelled (terminated) to cancelbrake hold. Accordingly, in this case, the routine proceeds to step S13,in which the drive assistance ECU 10 cancels the brake hold control.More specifically, in step S13, the drive assistance ECU 10 sends abrake hold cancel command to the brake ECU 20 and sends an output limitcancel command to the engine ECU 30. The PCS control including the brakehold control is thus terminated, so that the vehicle can makeacceleration and deceleration movements according to depression of theaccelerator pedal and depression of the brake pedal by the driver.

After performing the process of step S13 (cancelling the brake holdcontrol), the drive assistance ECU 10 terminates the brake hold cancelcontrol routine. Once the drive assistance ECU 10 terminates the brakehold cancel control routine, it will not execute the brake hold cancelcontrol routine until the vehicle is stopped by automatic brake controland brake hold is started by the brake hold control.

On the other hand, when depression of the brake pedal is not detected(S12: No), that is, when neither the accelerator pedal nor the brakepedal is being depressed, the routine proceeds to step S14. In step S14,the drive assistance ECU 10 obtains surroundings information such asfront sensor information supplied from the front sensor and rear sensorinformation supplied from the rear side radar sensor 80. Subsequently,the drive assistance ECU 10 determines in step S15 whether the vehiclemay be started (whether the safety of the vehicle is guaranteed) basedon the surroundings information. As used herein, “start” means that thevehicle starts when the brake hold control is cancelled, namely thevehicle starts due to creeping.

For example, in the case where an obstacle is present right in front ofthe vehicle, the vehicle may start due to creeping and collides with theobstacle when the brake hold control is cancelled. Accordingly, thedrive assistance ECU 10 determines that the brake vehicle should not bestarted (S15: No) in a situation where the vehicle is not separated fromthe obstacle (the distance between the vehicle and the obstacle is notsecured) to such an extent that the driver can depress the brake pedaland stop the vehicle before the vehicle collides with the obstacle. Thedrive assistance ECU 10 may also determine that the brake vehicle shouldnot be started when a traffic light ahead of the vehicle is red (thatis, when the vehicle is not legally allowed to start).

When the drive assistance ECU 10 determines that the vehicle may bestarted (S15: Yes), the routine proceeds to step S16. The driveassistance ECU 10 determines in step S16 whether the time elapsed fromthe start of the current brake hold control (hold time) is equal to orlonger than the set time (e.g., 2 seconds). For example, when the brakehold control is started, the drive assistance ECU 10 starts timing usinga timer in synchronization with the start of the brake hold control andreads the timer value to make a determination in step S16. The set timecorresponds to the “cancel threshold time.”

When the hold time has not reached the set time (S16: No), the routinereturns to step S11, and the drive assistance ECU 10 repeats theprocessing described above.

When the drive assistance ECU 10 determines after the hold time reachesthe set time that neither the accelerator pedal nor the brake pedal isbeing depressed (S12: No) and that there is no problem in starting thevehicle due to creeping (S15: Yes), the routine proceeds to step S13.The brake hold control is thus cancelled.

When the accelerator pedal is not being depressed (S11: No) butdepression of the brake pedal is detected (S12: Yes) before the holdtime reaches the set time (S11: No), the brake hold control is cancelledas soon as depression of the brake pedal is detected, even before thehold time reaches the set time.

On the other hand, when the determination result in step S15 is “No,”for example when an obstacle with which the vehicle may collide if itstarts due to creeping, the routine proceeds to step S17. In step S17,the drive assistance ECU 10 determines a maneuver performed by thedriver is inappropriate, and the routine returns to step S11.

Next, an example in which the accelerator pedal is being depressed willbe described. When the drive assistance ECU 10 determines in step S11that the accelerator pedal is being depressed (S11: Yes), the routineproceeds to step S18. The drive assistance ECU 10 determines in step S18whether there is a history that the driver's foot was released from theaccelerator pedal (i.e., the accelerator pedal was released) after thevehicle was stopped by automatic brake control (after the brake holdcontrol was started).

When automatic braking is applied, the driver may get upset and may notbe able to make a good judgement. Accordingly, there is a risk that thedriver may mistakenly step on a wrong pedal, namely the driver maymistakenly continue to depress the accelerator pedal although he or sheintends to step on the brake pedal. If the brake hold control iscancelled in this situation, the vehicle may start suddenly (acceleratesuddenly) according to the depression of the accelerator pedal.

On the other hand, in the case where the driver depresses theaccelerator pedal again during the brake hold control, namely in thecase where the driver substantially releases his or her foot from theaccelerator pedal, and then steps on the accelerator pedal again duringthe brake hold control, it can be estimated that the accelerator pedalis being depressed by the driver's intention to start the vehicle.

Accordingly, the process in step S18 is a process of determining whetherthe current depression of the accelerator pedal is an accelerator pedalmaneuver that is not intended by the driver (S18: No) or an acceleratorpedal maneuver that is performed by the driver's intention to start thevehicle (S18: Yes).

When the drive assistance ECU 10 determines that the accelerator pedalis being continuously depressed (S18: No), the routine proceeds to stepS17. In step S17, the drive assistance ECU 10 determines that themaneuver performed by the driver is inappropriate, and the routinereturns to step S11.

On the other hand, when the drive assistance ECU 10 determines that amaneuver of depressing the accelerator pedal again was performed (S18:Yes), the routine proceeds to step S19. In step S19, the driveassistance ECU 10 obtains surroundings information (front sensorinformation supplied from the front sensor and rear sensor informationsupplied from the rear side radar sensor 80). Subsequently, in step S20,the drive assistance ECU 10 determines whether the vehicle may bestarted based on the surroundings information. As used herein, “start”means that the vehicle starts when the brake hold control is cancelled,and the vehicle starts by depression of the accelerator pedal.

For example, the determination result in step S20 is “No” in any of thefollowing situations.

1. An obstacle has been detected ahead of the vehicle (e.g., within apredetermined distance from the vehicle).

2. The steering wheel is being maneuvered and an obstacle has beendetected in the estimated traveling direction of the vehicle.

3. A moving object (other vehicle, a pedestrian, a bicycle, etc.) ispredicted to cross in front of the vehicle.

4. A moving object (other vehicle, a pedestrian, a bicycle, etc.)approaching the vehicle from diagonally behind is predicted to cut in.

5. A traffic light ahead of the vehicle is red.

When the determination result in step S20 is “No,” the routine proceedsto step S17. In step S17, the drive assistance ECU 10 determines thatthe maneuver performed by the driver is inappropriate, and the routinereturns step S11.

The drive assistance ECU 10 repeats such processing. Accordingly, thebrake hold control will not be cancelled as long as it is determinedthat the maneuver performed by the driver is inappropriate.

When the determination result in step S20 is “Yes,” the routine proceedsto step S13, and the drive assistance ECU 10 cancels the brake holdcontrol. The PCS control is thus terminated.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart illustrating an example of the timing at whichbrake hold is cancelled. Automatic brake control is started at time t1.At time t2, the vehicle is stopped, and brake hold control is started.In this example, the driver continues to depress the accelerator pedaleven when the brake hold control is started. It is therefore determinedafter the brake hold control is started that the maneuver performed bythe driver is inappropriate. Since the driver still keeps depressing theaccelerator pedal even after the set time (e.g., 2 seconds) has passedsince the start of the brake hold control, it is determined that thisdriving maneuver performed by the driver is inappropriate, and the brakehold control is continued.

At time t3, it is detected that the driver has finished depressing theaccelerator pedal. The brake hold is cancelled at this time if there isno problem in starting the vehicle (S15: Yes).

FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which the driver performed a maneuverof depressing the accelerator pedal again during the brake hold. Thedriver's maneuver of depressing the accelerator pedal again is detectedat time t4. In this case, even before the hold time reaches the settime, the brake hold control is cancelled if there is no problem instarting the vehicle (S20: Yes). The vehicle therefore starts asintended by the driver.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart illustrating an example of the timing at whichbrake hold control is cancelled in a conventional device as acomparative example. Automatic braking is started at time tn. At timet12, the vehicle is stopped, and brake hold control is started. In thisexample, the driver continues to depress the accelerator pedal even whenthe brake hold control is started. The brake hold control is cancelledat time t13, namely when a set time (e.g., 2 seconds) has passed sincethe start of the brake hold control. At this time, since the acceleratorpedal is still kept depressed, the vehicle starts suddenly when thebrake hold control is cancelled.

As described above, according to the drive assistance device of thepresent embodiment, when cancelling the brake hold control, whether adriving maneuver performed by the driver when the vehicle is keptstopped is appropriate for the situation around the vehicle isdetermined based on information on the maneuver performed by the driverand information indicating the situation around the vehicle. When it isdetermined that the driving maneuver performed by the driver isinappropriate for the situation around the vehicle, the brake holdcontrol is prohibited from being cancelled. On the other hand, when itis not determined at the timing that the cancel condition is satisfiedthat the driving maneuver performed by the driver is inappropriate forthe situation around the vehicle, the brake stop control is cancelled.The brake hold (brake hold control) can be cancelled when it is safe todo so. Sudden start of the vehicle which is not intended by the driveris thus less likely to occur, and the vehicle is less likely to collidewith an obstacle when the brake hold control is cancelled.

When it is determined that a driving maneuver that can be estimated tobe a maneuver intended by the driver is performed during the brake holdcontrol, the brake hold control is cancelled even before the hold timereaches the set time. In this case, the brake hold control is cancelledon the condition that it is not determined that a maneuver performed bythe driver is inappropriate for the situation around the vehicle. Thedriver can thus start the vehicle based on his or her intention beforethe hold time reaches the set time.

For example, the maneuver of depressing the accelerator pedal again canbe estimated to be a maneuver intended by the driver. Accordingly, inthe case where the maneuver of depressing the accelerator pedal again isdetected, the vehicle can be smoothly started when the situation aroundthe vehicle is a situation where there is no problem in starting thevehicle.

In the case where the accelerator pedal is continuously depressed, it isdetermined regardless of the situation around the vehicle that themaneuver performed by the driver is inappropriate, and the brake holdcontrol is prohibited from being cancelled. Sudden start of the vehiclewhich is not intended by the driver is thus less likely to occur.

Modifications

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, step S21 may be added between step S12and step S14. Step S21 is a process of determining whether the driver isseated in a seat of the driver (whether the driver is outside thevehicle). For example, in step S21, the drive assistance ECU 10 reads asignal indicating the state of a seat belt switch (not shown) for theseat of the driver and determines whether the driver is seated in theseat of the driver. Alternatively, instead of the seat belt switch, thedrive assistance ECU 10 may read a signal from other sensor, such as aseating sensor that detects the driver being seated in the seat of thedriver, and may determine whether the driver is seated in the seat ofthe driver.

When the drive assistance ECU 10 determines that the driver is seated inthe seat of the driver, the routine proceeds to step S14. When the driveassistance ECU 10 determines that the driver is not seated in the seatof the driver, the routine proceeds to step S17.

In the case where the driver is not seated in the seat of the driver,depression of neither the accelerator pedal nor the brake pedal will bedetected. Accordingly, in the case where there is no obstacle ahead ofthe vehicle, the brake hold control is cancelled when the hold timebecomes equal to the set time. According to the first modification, thebrake hold control can be reliably prohibited from being cancelled evenin such a case.

The drive assistance ECU 10 may determine whether any other switchprovided for the seat of the driver has been operated in addition to theseat belt switch. In this case, the drive assistance ECU 10 maydetermine that the driver is seated in the seat of the driver whenoperation of the any other switch is detected.

Although the drive assistance device according to the embodiment isdescribed above, the disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment,and various modifications can be made without departing from the objectof the disclosure.

For example, in the above embodiment, the brake hold cancel control isapplied to automatic braking that is applied by the PCS control.However, the automatic braking to which the brake hold cancel control isapplied is not limited to the PCS control. For example, the automaticbraking to which the brake hold cancel control is applied may be appliedto a drive assistance system that applies automatic braking when it isestimated based on traffic infrastructure information obtained by thefront sensor (information indicated by a traffic light and a road sign)that the driver will fail to stop the vehicle at a predetermined stopposition (e.g., the driver failed to see a traffic light) although he orshe should stop the vehicle by laws and regulations. The trafficinfrastructure information need not necessarily be obtained from thefront camera sensor 70. For example, traffic infrastructure informationthat is sent wirelessly from a roadside unit etc. may be obtained viathe wireless communication device 51.

The automatic braking to which the brake hold cancel control is appliedmay also be applied to a false start suppression system that makes thevehicle less likely to start suddenly against the driver's intention byapplying automatic braking upon detection of the driver mistakenlystepping on a wrong pedal (a driver's maneuver of mistakenly stepping onthe accelerator pedal although he or she intends to step on the brakepedal).

The front sensor may be modified as appropriate. For example, the frontcamera sensor 70 may not have a function to perceive trafficinfrastructure facilities such as traffic lights.

In the above embodiment, traffic infrastructure information (e.g., atraffic light: red) is included as one of the conditions fordetermination in step S20. However, such traffic infrastructureinformation need not necessarily be included in the conditions fordetermination in step S20. The drive assistance ECU 10 may onlydetermine in step S20 whether there is an obstacle.

In the above embodiment, when keeping the vehicle stopped, the brakeactuator 21 is controlled to supply an oil pressure, which has been setto keep the vehicle stopped, to the wheel cylinders of the frictionbrake mechanisms 22 for the right and left front and rear wheels.However, an electric parking brake (not shown) may be operated to keepthe vehicle stopped.

What is claimed is:
 1. A drive assistance device, comprising: anautomatic brake unit configured to perform automatic brake control whenit is determined that a predetermined automatic stop condition issatisfied, the automatic brake control being control in which a brakingforce is applied to a vehicle to automatically stop the vehicle; a brakehold unit configured to perform brake hold control such that the vehiclestopped by the automatic brake unit moves neither forward nor rearward,the brake hold control being control in which the braking force isapplied to the vehicle to keep the vehicle stopped; a brake hold cancelunit configured to cause the brake hold unit to cancel the brake holdcontrol when it is determined that a predetermined cancel condition issatisfied during the brake hold control performed by the brake holdunit; a surroundings information obtaining unit configured to obtainsurroundings information, the surroundings information being informationindicating a situation around the vehicle; a maneuver informationobtaining unit configured to obtain maneuver information, the maneuverinformation being information on a driving maneuver performed by adriver of the vehicle; a maneuver determination unit configured todetermine, based on the obtained surroundings information and theobtained maneuver information, whether the driving maneuver performedduring the brake hold control is appropriate for the situation aroundthe vehicle; and a prohibition unit configured such that, even when thepredetermined cancel condition is satisfied, the prohibition unitprohibits the brake hold cancel unit from causing the brake hold unit tocancel the brake hold control as long as the maneuver determination unitdetermines that the driving maneuver is inappropriate.
 2. The driveassistance device according to claim 1, wherein the brake hold cancelunit is configured to determine that the predetermined cancel conditionis satisfied when a brake hold time is equal to or longer than apredetermined cancel threshold time and an accelerator pedal is notbeing depressed, the brake hold time being a period during which thebrake hold control is continuously performed.
 3. The drive assistancedevice according to claim 2, wherein the brake hold cancel unit isconfigured to determine whether a specific maneuver, which is estimatedto be a maneuver intended by the driver, has been performed during thebrake hold control, and when the brake hold cancel unit determines thatthe specific maneuver has been performed, determine that thepredetermined cancel condition is satisfied even when the brake holdtime is less than the cancel threshold time.
 4. The drive assistancedevice according to claim 3, wherein the specific maneuver is a maneuverof depressing the accelerator pedal again, which is performed during thebrake hold control.
 5. The drive assistance device according to claim 3,wherein the specific maneuver is depression of a brake pedal which isperformed when a depression amount of the accelerator pedal is zeroduring the brake hold control.
 6. The drive assistance device accordingto claim 1, wherein the maneuver determination unit is configured todetermine that the driving maneuver is inappropriate when, during thebrake hold control, it is determined based on the obtained surroundingsinformation that an obstacle with which the vehicle has a potential tocollide is present and it is determined based on the obtained maneuverinformation that an accelerator pedal has been depressed.
 7. The driveassistance device according to claim 1, wherein the maneuverdetermination unit is configured to determine that the driving maneuveris inappropriate when, during the brake hold control, it is determinedbased on the obtained surroundings information that an obstacle withwhich the vehicle has a potential to collide is present and it isdetermined based on the obtained maneuver information that a brake pedalis not being depressed.
 8. The drive assistance device according toclaim 1, wherein the maneuver determination unit is configured todetermine that the driving maneuver is inappropriate when, during thebrake hold control, it is determined based on the obtained surroundingsinformation that a situation has occurred in which the vehicle islegally not allowed to start and it is determined based on the obtainedmaneuver information that an accelerator pedal has been depressed. 9.The drive assistance device according to claim 1, wherein the maneuverdetermination unit is configured to determine that the driving maneuveris inappropriate when, during the brake hold control, it is determinedbased on the obtained surroundings information that a situation hasoccurred in which the vehicle is legally not allowed to start and it isdetermined based on the obtained maneuver information that a brake pedalis not being depressed.
 10. The drive assistance device according toclaim 1, wherein the maneuver determination unit is configured todetermine whether the driver is seated in a seat of the driver duringthe brake hold control, and determine that the driving maneuver isinappropriate, when it is determined that the driver is not seated inthe seat of the driver.